I booked a family holiday to celebrate my 70th birthday but was forced to cancel it a few weeks later because my husband was diagnosed with incurable stomach cancer. My insurer, Axa, was very sympathetic and told me I'd be able to claim for the whole trip. I provided evidence and when I phoned I was told everything was fine.

The consumer prices index rate of inflation rose to 1.0 per cent from 0.6 per cent in August, meaning that savers need an account paying more than 1 per cent to earn a real return on their deposits. With only the very best easy access accounts paying just 1 per cent, and fixed rate accounts slightly more, most nest eggs around the country are now shrinking rapidly and the best deposit accounts are making a meagre, barely noticeable return.

Making the most of a pension is your best chance of securing a decent income when you retire. After you finish working, how will you be able to afford to live if you don't plan ahead? The good news is that pensions have got much better and starting early can really pay off. We explain what you need to know.

We speak to former Storage Hunter Jesse McClure who is about to launch a new UK TV show in the latest of our regular 'a coffee with...' series. The American reality TV star has been a huge hit in the UK, thanks to the US show on channel Dave in which he blindly bids on storage containers and its contents in the hope of finding hidden gems.

The AA said car drivers are having to spend £6.67 more than they did in March 2016 each time they fill up - that works out at a £26.68 increase to monthly bills for a family running two petrol cars.

Former Pensions Minister Steve Webb is This Is Money's Agony Uncle. He is ready to answer your questions, whether you are still saving, in the process of stopping work, or juggling your finances in retirement. This week, he replies to a former civil servant who wants to pay more to 'contract in' and get a higher state pension.

Getting a mortgage remains an arduous and paper-heavy task, despite the technology changing our everyday lives. So why isn't it easier to get a mortgage online - and just how far can you take the process? We spoke to borrowers, brokers and two cutting edge mortgage start-ups to find out.

Hays said companies were cautious and larger firms were controlling costs. Net fees from the UK part of the business fell 10 per cent in the three months to September 30. But they grew 30 per cent and 33 per cent respectively in the Asia Pacific and Continental Europe and Rest of the World regions.

Co-writer Shearer, 72, who played bassist Derek Small in the film (pictured far left), now voices characters such as Ned Flanders and Principal Skinner in US cartoon series The Simpsons. He accused Vivendi of engaging in 'fuzzy' accounting through its subsidiaries Universal Music Group and Studio Canal.

H&H; Classics said its recent car auction at the Imperial War Museum 'brought in additional new foreign buying interest' as overseas investors jumped at the opportunity to buy. Among ten E-Types included in the sale, pictured, was a barn-find 1964 3.8-litre Jaguar E-Type Coupe, centre, that sold for double its estimate.

In some societies, everyone has paid the same flat rate of tax. Meanwhile after World War II the richest paid a 90 per cent tax rate. So how do we decide how much tax the richest and poorest people should pay? On this episode of The Big Money Questions, professor of politics at New York University David Stasavage explains the three different systems that are considered by some to be fair. Where do you fit in the debate?

Supermarket giant Tesco scored a PR victory last week in the Marmitegate spat with consumer brands titan Unilever, but investors need to weigh up just how the falling pound will hit supermarkets and other retailers, say experts. While the weak pound is good for some, the flip side is pressure on import prices and there will be more spats like Marmitegate. So what does that mean for investors in retailers?

Sterling has crashed to a 31-year low against the dollar. Sally Hamilton identifies the losers - and winners - from this currency crisis. Families heading abroad this half-term will feel the squeeze on their spending money. Most products will cost more. The higher prices in shops means the pound in your pocket - and interest on savings accounts - will be worth less. Michael Rimmer and Sophie Marchant (pictured) bought dollars for their holiday before the referendum.

Our report last month on mystery shopping - people going undercover to check on the quality of the service offered by retailers - provoked a huge response from readers. TOBY WALNE, an erstwhile 'mystery shopper', shares their experiences, good and bad.

Although man-caves are considered a modern phenomenon, Tom Williams of YOUhome estate agency in Bournemouth believes they're nothing but a new spin on an old theme. 'In Edwardian times, the head of the household would have retired to the drawing room with a cigar and brandy,' he says. 'Today's stressed dads go to their man-cave with their iPads.'

From breast augmentation (£5,100), vasectomy reversal (£3,225) and gastric bands (£6,350) to eye bag removal (£2,600) and hip replacements (£13,276), there is a world of opportunity from Spire's growing list of off-the-shelf surgery to whet the interest of consumers and investors alike. Over the past 12 months, Spire has built the list of guide prices from a handful of options to 75 procedures from what some may frankly consider frivolous (facelift at £4,100 and nose job at £4,724) to the more serious.

The classic car market is now attracting younger, financially savvy women defying falling savings rates and plummeting annuity rates on their pension pots. Over the past two years, the number of female classic car owners has risen by 40 per cent, with female customers now accounting for 11 per cent of the market, says new research by classic car insurance broker Footman James.

My eldest brother wants to see our parents' wills and mine to see what is left to him so he can plan for his future and make sure his children are ok. Both our parents are poorly and I'm their main carer. I still live at home and dropped my hours so I can do more for them. I do not have a pension so mum and dad have made sure that the house comes to me.My other brother is all for it but the other thinks he should get his share and if he didn't like what's in the will he wants to change it.

Would you invest in Sports Direct in the current environment, or buy into a company with a significant pension deficit? Many would steer clear of these scenarios for fear of getting their fingers burnt, but fund manager Alex Wright purposely looks for companies going through a tough time

I have received a £100 fine for not having insurance on a motorhome I'm currently not using. I've been storing the vehicle on my property, in an off-road parking space with no intention to drive it for six months. I understood that human rights give you the right to enjoy your property without harassment, so why am I being fined for keeping a vehicle on my own land?

To clear the average national household debt of ?13,000 at 6% interest with a monthly repayment of ?100 will take around 17 years. There are, however, plenty of simple ways to make significant savings on your regular spending that could clear your debt - or boost your savings - in less than a year. This is Money's top 50 - updated - money-saving tips may appear light-hearted but are deadly serious.

Choosing the right DIY platform is crucial but a wealth of choice and changes to charges have left many investors scratching their heads. We pick some of the best. We also highlight why investing in an Isa makes sense, as it should protect your hopefully growing investments from tax forever.

Despite endless media coverage of the political wrangling and financial speculation, the average Briton can be forgiven for remaining confused about what 'soft' and 'hard' Brexit really mean. About the difference between the 'Norway model' for the UK's post-Brexit relationship with the UK and the 'Swiss solution'. But a clever table put together by HSBC in a report called 'Is Brexit Getting Harder?' cleaves some clarity from the murk.

An interest rate cut before the end of the year looks less likely following the plunge in the pound. However, the Bank of England has indicated that higher inflation driven by rising import costs won't make it lift rates.

Musicians have seen pay rises averaging nearly 20 per cent in 2015, while cleaners are getting 17.8 per cent more, and window cleaners 12.3 per cent. Artists in general are earning 14.6 per cent more in 2015 than 2014, according to the huge annual data dump of pay scales by the Office For National Statistics highlights.